USA > Wisconsin > Wisconsin, its story and biography, 1848-1913, Volume VII > Part 39
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During his residence in Battle Creek, Mr. Hickman was a member of the city council for six years, representing the Fifth Ward of Battle Creek. In politics he is a Republican in national affairs. He has mem- bership in the Milwaukee-Chicago Good Roads Association, and in the Milwaukee Automobile Club. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias lodge in Battle Creek, and is well known in social and business circles in Milwaukee.
On September 26, 1878, Mr. Hickman married Miss Stelle Perkins, daughter of L. P. and Harriet (Miles) Perkins, of Battle Creek. Mrs. Hickman was born in New York State, but was reared and educated in Battle Creek, her parents moving there from the eastern state when she was a small girl. Her mother is deceased, and her father resides in the Hickman home at Milwaukee. The residence is at 220 Queen Ann Place. Along with exceptional ability and striking energy Mr. Hickman possesses the genial qualities of so many successful American business men, and is a sympathetic and ready worker, wherever the welfare of his commun- ity is at stake.
HON. J. J. HOGAN. The year 1859 saw the establishment of J. J. Hogan in the then village of LaCrosse. The passing years brought fully as great development in his private business affairs as they did in the development and growth of the city itself. His capital on reaching La- Crosse was limited to as small an amount as could be employed in the establishment of any kind of business, but Mr. Hogan was one who acknowledged no limitation of his own resources, and the result of his enterprise and activity is one that is in every way worthy of him and of the city. From a small beginning he brought about the solid wholesale
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grocery concern known as J. J. Hogan, one of the most important estab- lishments in the wholesale district of LaCrosse, and still in flourishing operation.
It could not be said that the element of luck entered in any way into the career of Mr. Hogan. He has been a man who never recognized any such force or influence as chance, depending rather upon his own excel- lent judgment, the exercise of his best business qualities and the applica- tion of honest and untiring energy in the administration of his affairs. With a mind and an eye for details in the management of business, he realized that the trifles entering into the management or mismanagement of any undertaking either makes or mars a fortune of the business. Mr. Hogan started his mercantile career at LaCrosse as a retailer, hav- ing a small place and a very meager stock of goods on Front Street. It was not until 1894 that the present building occupied by the whole- sale firm was erected. It is a commodious institution, designed espe- cially for its present use, and is supplied with sufficient warerooms, sample rooms and display rooms, so that it lacks nothing in its appoint- ment as one of the best equipped wholesale and jobbing houses in the state.
Since the retirement of Mr. Hogan the business has been carried on under the management of Mr. F. W. Fox, who has been in the employ of the concern since 1880. Mr. Fox is a man of the utmost integrity, thoroughly experienced and with a large business capacity, and the affairs of J. J. Hogan are well vested under his management. He entered the employ of Mr. Hogan in 1880 as a shipping clerk. It was not long before he made his value felt in the conduct of the house, and has risen steadily from one post to another until he has for some years been acting manager and superintendent of the business.
Aside from the grocery trade Mr. Hogan has been identified with many other interests in LaCrosse. Numerous public enterprises have claimed a share of his attention, and the fifty-five years which he has spent in the city have been accompanied with many benefits to the com- munity. He has given admirable service in the office of mayor to which he was elected in 1875, and again in 1876. In 1888 he was chosen a member of the state legislature. In 1890 he was reelected and in 1891 was chosen speaker of the House. His public service was characteristic of his private life, and resulted in the greatest good to his city and his district.
On December 24, 1863, Mr. Hogan married Miss Amanda Cook, a daughter of E. Fox Cook of Milwaukee. Mr. Cook was a prominent lawyer of Milwaukee, a leader in Democratic politics, for many years, served as a member of the legislatures of Michigan, Wisconsin and New York, at different periods of his life, and died in LaCrosse at the age of eighty-two years. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hogan were
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born four children, all of whom are now living : Gertrude M., Lulu M., John D., and James C.
HARVEY RUSSELL. One of the early merchants and business builders of Milwaukee, the late Harvey Russell was a man who during his life-time effected a deep impress on his community, was the winner of a generous but thoroughly honorable success, and always enjoyed the esteem and confidence of his many associates and friends in this city.
Harvey Russell was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1835, and came west and located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1864. Two years preceding this he had spent in Kansas and Nebraska. In Milwaukee he became associated with his brother in the commission house of George D. Russell & Company, and subsequently entered into part- nership with Thomas E. Balding, under the firm name of Russell & Balding. The next enterprise which was the outgrowth of his business energies and progressive success, was the house of H. Russell & Com- pany, which stood in the front rank of mercantile houses in this city up to the time of its founder's death. Mr. Harvey Russell died in Mil- waukee, October 10, 1874, at the age of thirty-nine years, at the very height of his business career.
He married Miss Mary Jane Guilds, who was also a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She took an active part in Milwaukee social and charitable circles and was known for her many benevolences and kindnesses of character. She was secretary of the board of man- agers of the Home for the Friendless, an institution to which she gave much of her time and means. Her efforts were very instrumental in the erection of the new building of this home. Mrs. Russell was sixty years of age when death came to her on January 25, 1901. The only son and survivor of these parents is Mr. George H. Russell, who is a well known insurance man, and head president of the George H. Rus- sell Company in Milwaukee.
The late Harvey Russell was one of the prominent members of the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. The records of the Chamber for October 10,1874, contain an account of the meeting upon that day, the appointment of a committee on resolutions following upon the announcement of the death of Harvey Russell, who for the past ten years had been a prominent and honorable member of the Chamber. The resolutions drawn up and adopted unanimously by the Chamber read as follows: "This Chamber of Commerce has again to mourn the loss of a valuable member, Mr. Harvey Russell, in the prime of life, has been summoned to another world. During the ten years which he had spent upon this board he made many friends and no enemies. His integrity and honor as a merchant were without a blemish. To his associates he was ever kind and courteous, generous and warm-hearted. He was especially thoughtful and confiding
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towards those who had his more intimate acquaintance. Of sterling worth and unassuming manner, the name of Harvey Russell will long be remembered with esteem for his manly qualities and sorrow for his sudden death." As a mark of respect, the Chamber of Commerce attended the funeral in a body. The signatures to the resolution were those of A. K. Shepard, Edward Sanderson and T. E. Balding, all well known Milwaukee business men of that time.
GEORGE HARVEY RUSSELL of Milwaukee has a history that, only half finished, is already the inspiration of many a Wisconsin boy. Energy, enterprise, pluck and persistence have crowned with success, long before its autumn, a life that began almost in penury. A more bril- liant example of what can be accomplished through native ability and boundless industry is hardly to be found in the state.
Born November 3rd, 1866, of sturdy New England stock (his par- ents, Harvey Russell and Mary Jane Guilds, being natives of Pittsfield, Massachusetts,) George Russell inherits the mental and moral make- up of his English and Scotch forbears, who moved to the Colonies shortly before 1650. An only son, his boyhood was carefully guarded by a wise and God-fearing mother, whose care was in turn rewarded, when their troubles came, by filial love and devotion that won for the lad the faith and respect of an entire community. The death of his father in 1874 left the mother and eight-year-old boy in straitened circumstances. Harvey Russell, the father, who embarked in the grain business in Milwaukee in the early sixties, had met with little finan- cial success, and George had to be taken from a private school and sent, first to that of All Saints Cathedral, and then to rough it at the "public." This and three years of "East Side High" made up the sum of all the schooling he ever had, for at seventeen he started in to help his mother and carve a way for himself. He had learned the value as well as the need of money. His boy associates had their dime apiece to take them to and from Whittaker's Swimming School, above the old dam, and a nickel for the needed sandwich. George cheerily trudged the distance and appeased his hunger with a penny roll, but he became the champion swimmer of his class that year.
When Sarah Bernhardt came to Milwaukee for the first time, he sold librettos at each performance in order that he might see and study the great tragedienne. Being anxious to "learn a trade," with a number of his companions, young Russell built a complete telegraph line about three miles in length running from the old homestead through the Seventh, First and Eighteenth Wards to the vicinity of what is now known as Kane Place and Farwell avenue. The wires were stretched through trees and over houses and barns. Russell became an expert telegraph operator and was able at about sixteen years of age to receive something like sixty words a minute.
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When he wished to visit his aged grandmother in the East, he made a study of electricity and actually put in the first electric bells and "push buttons" ever used in the city of Milwaukee, thoroughly equipping the establishments of the old firms of H. Bosworth & Sons and the Stanley & Camp Company. This gave him the needed money. Moreover it added to the respect which thinking men began to feel for him.
Then old friends got him a berth in the Money Order Department of the Postoffice, but there the pay was a pittance. He made a record for industry and efficiency, but got no more reward than did the drones. As a lad of eighteen, he had sense to see that that was no way to win a competence. A desk with the newly-started Telephone Company gave promise of something better, and he took it and built up a fine reputation for accuracy and energy, but even that couldn't add to his salary, so he found a means of earning a few dollars a week by editing the "personal mention" column of a daily paper, and later still, when other men's day of rest came with the weekly round, George Russell took his in all night and all day travel for forty-eight hours, making the circuit of Madison, LaCrosse and Oshkosh, with a dozen intermediate stops and changes, collecting the nickels from the weigh- ing machines of a newly-started company, and earning thereby ten to fifteen dollars more with which to help the mother and provide for ยท himself.
But the time and labor given to the Telephone Company bore good fruit. The late John D. MeLeod was a "martinet" in his way, but famous as a man of accuracy and detail. As auditor, and afterwards general manager of the Wisconsin Telephone Company, he was rather severe on Russell, but the latter attributes much of his success to the splendid training he had under such a chief, and in later years McLeod showed his confidence in his pupil by becoming one of Russell's most important clients, and turning over to him with the full approval of President Alonzo Burt the exclusive handling of all the vast insur- ance business of the Wisconsin Telephone Company.
Frail-looking as a lad, Russell was gifted with a nervous energy that seemed never to tire, yet could not wear him out. It stood him in good stead on two occasions when boy comrades were in danger of drowning, and nothing but the instant and persistent effort of their champion swimmer saved them.
In spite of long hours of desk work Russell found time for exer- cise in the open air, and with sunshine, swimming and tennis built up his slender frame. Twenty years ago he took up the game of golf when it was unknown in the west, and with his enthusiasm, energy and love of sport did much for the game in its infancy; was active in the early meetings of the United States Golf Association and became a handicapper of no little authority both in the United States and
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Western Associations. For the greater portion of fifteen years more- over, he has served as master of sports at the Milwaukee Country Club, of which later he was elected president.
In 1884 he found his boy comrades joining a military company that was to be conducted on strictly "regular army" basis, and while a few could not stand the relentless discipline, most of them stuck to, and George Russell throve on it. He rose rapidly through every grade until, within the second year, he had become a captain of as keen a young company as Milwaukee ever paraded. The semi-weekly drills gave him "set up" and soldierly carriage; the lessons learned gave him confidence in his own powers of leadership and command. Young as he was, his services were presently sought by the commander of the Fourth Battalion of the Wisconsin National Guard, and he became Captain and Inspector of Small Arms Practice.
But meanwhile he had decided upon and taken a most important and characteristic step. His travels about the state had brought him in contact with many keen business men, and he traveled with his eyes and ears open. He was studying men and methods both, and seeking the vocation in which personal push and energy were most apt to find adequate reward. Milwaukee even then, in the mid eight- ies, had more than its quota of insurance agencies, and yet he believed Milwaukee a field, and insurance the business, in which a young man with super-abundance of industry and willingness to work would . surely make his mark and possibly his fortune. So, when only twenty- one he resigned his clerkship and cheerily and hopefully started out for himself. He asked no aid or favor. For a year it was a hard struggle, but he was learning the business from the bottom, feeling his way, watching every opportunity and never neglecting a detail. Other men sat and took what came to them. Russell sought and solicited, and soliciting began to tell. Before he had completed the sec- ond year of his battle he had half the old firms in Milwaukee stirring uneasily over the inroads the youngster was making. As the late Professor Warren Johnson once wrote "We approve of the gentle- manly persistency with which you go after, keep after, and take care of your insurance. We therefore feel that we can recommend your work to all others who have a large amount of insurance to place."
Two years from the time Russell began it is recorded that half a dozen of the old agents held a meeting with the object of devising some means of checking the pace which the young agent was set- ting. It was purposed to offer him a secretaryship with a lucrative salary, or to induce him to join forces, "pool his issues," with the elders; but that was precisely what Russell would not do. He had had enough of clerking and working that other men and corporations should reap from his sowing; he meant now to build and garner for himself, and so he told them. "I expect to see the day when that.
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young man will be at the head of the largest agency in the state," were the words of Mr. William L. Jones, president of the Milwaukee Mechanics Fire Insurance Company, a prominent member of the com- mittee; and while the other members have long since been gathered to their fathers, for this was a quarter of a century ago, the prophet lived to see the fulfillment of his words.
Making it his rule to be prompt in the discharge of every obliga- tion to customer as well as to the companies represented, with "square dealing" for his motto and ceaseless vigilance to aid him, it was not five years before Russell's business grew to such proportions that, even though working more hours than the best of them, he was com- pelled to double his force of assistants. It was evident, therefore, that he had no time for military duties, and for these reasons he felt obliged to abandon the soldier associations in which he took such pride; but, when Governor Hoard was inaugurated in 1889, he ten- dered to Russell the appointment of aide-de-camp on his staff, which gave to him in the National Guard the honorary rank of colonel.
In 1892 upon the death of George Cline, manager of the Standard Accident Insurance Company, Russell entered the race against the entire field, won out and became state manager of this company. In those days its business was almost trivial. Now, under his manage- ment, it has assumed enormous proportions, and its state manager long since became one of the directors of the company itself.
Again in 1892, upon the death of C. Jerome Cary, the great agency of which he had long been the head was a prize sought by a score of competitors; but once more push, persistency and energy were too much for all comers, and Russell won out; formed for a year a part- nership with the heirs of the Cary estate, and at the end of that time was able to buy out the other interests and take over the entire busi- ness and became sole owner and manager.
From that time ou the field of the George Russell Company has grown by leaps and bounds, until today he controls all the insurance matters of the great Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway ; his cus- tomers exceed five thousand in number, and his contracts mount into many millions.
Notwithstanding all this local demand upon his time, Russell had been, as said, for ten years director of the Standard Accident Insur- ance Company of Detroit, for many years president of the Pabst Company of Nebraska, is stockholder in a dozen of the best banks, companies and corporations of the west, a member (and for several years served as vice-president) of the Milwaukee Board of Under- writers and is a member of other similar bodies in New York, Boston, Chicago and Cincinnati, an active and influential citizen and has ever been an active and prominent Republican.
Socially, George Russell is as prominent as in business circles ; a
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member of all the best clubs, always the head of the floor committee at the annual Charity Ball, an authority at the horse show and presi- dent of the old Bit and Bridle Club, a famous leader of the "German," and director of sports at the County Club, a keen hand at golf or ten- nis, an expert shot and enthusiastic huntsman, an exponent, as some- body said, of "the finished product in smartness' in dress, a frequent visitor to the old world, and a traveler who sees everything and can tell admirably everything he sees, a raconteur whose stories are capital. A breezy, genial, dashing personality is his, known and welcomed in a dozen cities besides his own. Few men in the Middle West have a larger and better acquaintance. Captains of industry everywhere, prominent men here and abroad, have ever a smile of welcome and a hearty hand shake for "Prince George of Milwaukee." But, more than all this, he is a loyal and public-spirited son of the state and city of his birth, and a husband and father as devoted as ever he was as a son. In January, 1893, he was married to Miss Laura Eustis, daughter of Mr. Cartwright Eustis of New Orleans, and niece of Senator James B. Eustis, long time ambassador to France during the Cleveland administration. Two daughters, Laura and Marion, have been born to them, the one in 1894, the other in 1897, and the beautiful home he has built for them is the center of his entire universe and the scene of many a delightful entertainment.
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HAROLD C. WEBSTER. A valiant, determined and ambitious spirit and sterling young business man, Harold C. Webster has gained definite prestige as one of the well equipped representatives of the civil-engineer profession, in which he has been concerned with much important work, and he is junior member of the progressive firm of Kamschulte & Web- ster, civil engineers and architects, with offices in the Foster building, at 403 Grand avenue, Milwaukee, besides which he has the distinction of being the present incumbent of the office of county surveyor of Mil- waukee county. Further interest attaches to his career by reason of the fact that he is a native son of Wisconsin and that he has here found ample field for productive enterprise, the while he commands unquali- fied popular esteem.
Harold C. Webster was born in the township of Elba, Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 29th of October, 1885, and is a son of Samuel R. and Harriet (Chamberlain) Webster, who still reside on the fine old home- stead farm in Elba township, this having likewise been the birthplace of the father, who is one of the substantial agriculturists and repre- sentative citizens of Dodge county, which has been his home from the
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time of his birth. He is a son of James Webster, who was born in Oneida county, New York, on the 1st of May, 1814, and who was there reared to the age of twenty years, after which he passed four years in Hartford, Connecticut, where he served a thorough apprenticeship to the trade of brickmaking. After his return to his native county he there engaged in the manufacturing of brick, to which line of industry he continued to devote his attention for sixteen years, besides which he conducted a hotel near Rome, New York, about two years. In 1837 he wedded Miss Maria Peetman, who was born in Montgomery county, New York, and in 1843 they came to the territory of Wisconsin. In November of that year they located at Oakland, Jefferson county, but in 1845 Mr. Webster purchased a tract of ninety-six acres of land in Lowell township, that county, besides forty acres in Elba township, Dodge county, upon which latter tract he established his home in the autumn of that year. In the spring of 1851 he bought another farm in Elba township, and in the fall of that year he removed to the latter place. He accumulated a landed estate of four hundred acres much of which he reclaimed from the forest wilds, and he was numbered among the early and influential settlers of Dodge county, where he established a home about three years prior to the admission of Wisconsin to the Union and where he and his wife passed the residne of their lives, secure in the confidence and good will of all who knew them. Of their children two sons are now living.
Samuel R. Webster, father of him whose name initiates this article, was the second in order of birth of the seven children and he has well upheld the high reputation of the family name, as he has contributed his quota to the civic and industrial development and progress of his native county, where he still resides on the old homestead farm, as pre- viously noted, and where he is honored as a man of sterling character and unqualified liberality and public spirit. He is at the present time president of the Elba Mutual Fire Insurance Company and has served many years in the office of justice of the peace, besides which he is a member of the school board. In 1897 he represented his native county in the state legislature, and proved an active and valued member of the assembly body. He is a Republican in his political proclivities and both he and his wife are zealous members of the Congregational church. It may further be noted that the father of Samuel R. Webster was for three years president of the Elba Farmers' Insurance Company, of which he was one of the organizers, and that for some time he served, with marked energy and progressiveness, as president of the Columbus Union Agricultural Society : he raised and dealt in thoroughbred live- stock upon a somewhat extensive scale and did much to advance the agricultural and live-stock standards in his native state. Samuel R. Webster as a young man wedded Miss Harriet Chamberlain, who was born at Necedah, Juneau county, this state, and who likewise is a rep- Vol. VII-22
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